The 32-year-old Wiggins has struggled to live up to his fourth-place finish at the 2009 Tour. But with three summit finishes and over 100 kilometers of time trialing, this year’s course suits him well. He defeated Cadel Evans earlier this month at the Criterium du Dauphiné—an important pre-Tour event—and now has three impressive stage-race victories so far this season. In a wide-open race with a long list of contenders, he’s at the top.

Evans enters the Tour de France quietly confident that he’ll be able to defend his title from 2011—especially without Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck participating. This year’s time-trial-heavy route plays to his strengths, but also to those of some of his most dangerous rivals. Luckily, he has a strong and dedicated team supporting him, including Americans George Hincapie (riding his last Tour) and Tejay van Garderen (a rider on the verge of contending himself).

The 34-year-old Spaniard is rarely mentioned as a serious contender, even after several high Tour finishes (3rd in 2010, 5th in 2011). He can climb, time trial, and his tactical skills will serve him well in a frantic first week. Despite injuring his ribs in a crash at the Criterium du Dauphiné, Sanchez says he's healed and ready to challenge for stage wins, a second consecutive polka-dot jersey as King of the Mountains, and perhaps a top-three finish in Paris.

Fresh off a two-year doping suspension, the 32-year-old Spaniard will be gunning for redemption at the Tour de France. He’ll have an advantage in the hilly early stages, then later count on fan support in the Pyrenees. And his form is improving as illustrated by his ninth-place finish in the recent Tour of Switzerland. The time trials at the Tour will challenge him, but stage wins and a podium finish are certainly within his reach.

The 27-year-old Italian last rode the Tour de France in 2009 and finished seventh overall. He has since won the Tour of Spain and stood on the final podium at the Tour of Italy twice. This year he has shifted his focus to France. Known for his climbing—and descending—Nibali will lose time to Wiggins and Evans in the Tour’s long time trials, but will benefit from the experienced and talented Ivan Basso riding as his lieutenant in the mountains.

Canada’s Hesjedal comes to the Tour de France hoping to be the first rider to win the Giro-Tour double since Marco Pantani in 1998. While some doubt Hesjedal’s chances at arriving fresh and rested after his grueling Giro victory, the Tour’s route suits him well. If he can avoid losing too much time in the Tour’s tricky first week, he should grow stronger as the race progresses. He also has the benefit of a deep and talented team riding alongside him, led by Americans Tom Danielson and Christian Vande Velde, both of whom have top-10 Tour finishes on their résumés.

The 29-year-old Belgian became a national hero when he finished fourth in the 2010 Tour de France—the country’s best Tour finish in decades. He looked ready to better that result last year before a crash in the Tour’s first week ended his race prematurely. Van Den Broeck spent the off-season working on his time trialing, and his performance at the Dauphiné indicated improvement. But he’ll need to be at his best if he wants a place on the Tour’s final podium.

After a forgettable 2011, this 26-year-old Dutchman looks to have regained the swagger that made him one of cycling’s most talented young riders a few seasons ago. This year, Gesink made his breakthrough at the Tour of California, winning the race overall after an unstoppable climb to the summit of Mt. Baldy. Gesink confirmed his improvement with a solid ride at the Tour of Switzerland and now looks set to lead a team of talented Dutchmen (included future stars Bauke Mollema and Steven Kruijswijk) at the Tour.

While he’ll certainly miss his brother, Andy Schleck, Luxembourg’s Frank Schleck looks poised to better his third-place in last year’s Tour. Frank has finished in the top-5 in three of the last four Tours (he crashed out in 2010), and without the “burden” of supporting his brother in the mountains, is free to ride for himself this year. He is in form (nearly winning the recent Tour of Switzerland) and leads a talented squad of Tour veterans (including Germany’s Andreas Kloden and American Chris Horner).